End plate for springs.



T. A. SHEA. END PLATE FOR SPRINGS.

APPLICATION mun 001'. a, 1909.

Patented May 23, 1911.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. SHEA. OF HAMMOND. INDIANA.

END PLATE FOR SPRINGS.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. SHEA, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hammond, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in End Plates for Springs, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to end plates for semi-elliptic springs, to whichthe usual stirrup for carrying the load is fitted and consists of an endplate formed particularly to facilitate permanent securement in positionon the spring without requiring any inconvenient modifications of, or inany way weakening, the spring. To accomplish this in the simplestpossible manner the end plates of my invention are provided with anextension on their outer ends in the form of a downwardly extending lipadapted to be bent inwardly into locking engagement with the outer mainleaf end, which is suitably inclined to permit of the lockingengagement; this being accomplished in a most convenient manner by asimple operation; the plates being formed to permit of the greatesteconomy in manufacture and adapted to be conveniently adjusted andsecurely fastened in position. These and other features of my inventionwill be understood by reference to the drawings herewith, in which thereference numerals of the description indicate corresponding parts inall the views.

In the drawing Figure 1 is an elevation showing my invention in positionon a spring. Fig. 2 is an elevation, enlarged, of my improved end-plate.Fig. 3 is a corresponding sectional view illustrating my invention asclamped in position. Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof and Fig. 5 is anelevation of the main leaf end as formed to cooperate with my improvedend-plate.

In the figures, 1 indicates the main springleaf and 2 the end-plate orbearing-plate of my invention supported thereon. This plate may beeconomically made of wrought or malleable iron and formed as shown withthe guide and securing lugs or dowels 4- 1 to engage apertures 5-5 ofthe main-leaf 1 whereby the plate is adjusted in position upon the leafto be permanently secured thereon by the retaining extension or lip 6.Preferably the retaining-lip 6 is in the form of an integral downwardextension substantially equal in depth to the thickness of the mainleaf, formed on the outer plate end at Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 6, 1909.

Patented May 23, 1911.

Serial No. 521,296.

right angles to the plate, in position of engagement with the outermain-leaf end 8; the main-leaf end being suitably formed to permitclamping of the plate thereon upon bending inwardly of the retaininglip, for this purpose being here shown beveled to provide inclined tip10 engaging the bent-in lip as shown in Fig. 3. A small groove 11 may beformed adjacent to the lip during casting of the plate to insure againstfracture or weakening of the plate during bending of the lip.

The second leaf 12 may, as shown, be elongated to be flush with theouter edge of the end-plate in which position it will afford aprotection against disengagement of the bent-in retaining lip from thecontact of foreign bodies.

The features of my invention may be employed in end-plates of anysuitable construction, being here shown embodied in a so called gib endplate. The end-plate being grooved or recessed at 12 to receive the pin14: of the usual hanger 15, depending through slots 16 and 17 in the endplate and main-leaf provided therefor.

18 is the central spring leaf binder employed to bind the usual seriesof leafsprings 20.

My improved plates readily adjust themselves in position on the springby the engagement of the securing lugs or dowels with their slots whenpermanent securement is accomplished upon merely inwardly bending of theretaining lip, clamping the mainleaf in a manner contributing to itssecureness and rigidity, the bending of the lip being convenientlyaccomplished without the employment of any special tool.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, an end plate for springs providedwith a downwardly extending lip adapted to be bent into clampingengagement with the end of the spring leaf permanently to secure theplate thereon.

2. As a new article of manufacture, an end plate for semi-ellipticsprings provided with dowels for engagement with the spring leaf andprovided on its outer end with a downwardly extending lip adapted to bebent into clamping engagement with the spring-leaf end permanently tosecure the plate thereon.

'tion with the main leaf having an inclined tion with the main leafhaving an inclined the plate end to underlie the lip substan- 3. As anew article of manufacture, an

tially as described.

end plate for springs provided at its end with anintegral downwardlyextending lip In a semi-elliptic spring, the combinaadapted to beinwardly bent into clamping tion with the main leaf having its endbevengagement with the spring leaf end pereled on its underside andsuitably apertured, manently to secure the plate thereon, said of aplate provided with dowels engaging plate being transversely grooved onits under leaf apertures to position the plate thereon, portionimmediately adjacent to said lip. said plate being provided on its outerend 4. As a new article of manufacture, an with an integral downwardlyextending 1i end plate for semi-elliptic springs prosubstantially thethickness of the leaf and vided with dowels for engagement with theadapted to be inwardly bent into clamping spring leaf, said plate havingan'integral engagement with the main leaf beveled end downwardlyextending lip on its outerend permanently to secure the plate thereon,adapted to be inwardly bent into locking said plate being transverselygrooved on its engagement with the spring-leaf end perunder portionimmediately adjacent to said manently to secure the plate thereon. lipand the spring second leaf being el0n 5. In a semi-elliptic spring thecombinagated to be substantially flush with the tion with the main leafhaving an inclined plate outer end underlying the bent-in lip end, of anend plate provided with a downsubstantially as described. vwardlyextending lip immediately adjacent 9. As a new article of manufacture,an to the main-leaf inclined end to be bent into end plate for springshaving securing lugs clamping engagement therewith permafor engagementwith the spring leaf and provided on its end with a downwardly extendinglip adapted to be bent into clamping engagement with the spring leafpermanently to secure the plate thereon. V

10. As a new article of manufacture, an end plate for springs havingsecuring lugs for engagement with the spring leaf and provided on itsend with a singledownwardly extending lip adapted to be bent intoclamping engagement with the spring, leaf permanently to secure theplate thereon, said lip extending substantially the full width of theplate.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS A. SHEA.

nently to lock the plate to the main leaf.

6. In a semi-elliptic spring, the combinaportion, of an end plateprovided with an integral downwardly extending lip immediately adjacentto the main leaf inclined end to be bent into clamping engagementtherewith permanently to lock the plate to the main leaf and the springsecond leaf being adapted to underlie said lip when in lockingengagement.

7. In a semi-ellipticspring, the combinaouter end, of an end plateprovided on its outer end with an integral downwardly extending lipadapted to be inwardly bent into clamping engagement with the inclinedmain leaf end permanently to secure the plate thereon and the springsecond leaf being elongated to be substantially flush with l/Vitnesses:

JOHN BIELAWA, PAUL B. LIPINsKI.

